Dialysis treatment administered to patients with kidney failure is of two types: peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis.
Peritoneal dialysis is a procedure in which the blood is cleansed of harmful substances and fluid balance is maintained through the use of the patient’s own peritoneal membrane by introducing a special solution into the abdominal cavity. Since this procedure involves administering a glucose-containing solution into the body, the fast is invalidated. Patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis may, if they have no other serious illnesses and if their physicians deem it appropriate, receive their treatment between ifṭār and imsāk and observe the fast during the day.
Hemodialysis, on the other hand, is a process in which the blood is removed from the body, purified by a machine, and then returned to the body. Blood is drawn from the patient’s arm through a needle, passed continuously through a filter known as a dialyzer, which removes harmful substances and excess fluid, and then returned to the patient’s circulation through a second needle. During this process, fluids containing nutritional substances may sometimes be administered. Therefore, if glucose or similar nourishing substances enter the body, the fast is invalidated.
However, if hemodialysis is performed without administering any fluids or substances of nutritional value, the fast is not invalidated. In other types of dialysis, since nourishing fluids are introduced into the body, the fast is invalidated.
As the condition of each dialysis patient differs, those wishing to fast must consult their physicians. If the physician considers fasting safe, it may be observed; however, if there is a serious risk of nutritional deficiency, refraining from fasting is more appropriate.